China refuses beef and dairy from Lithuania

The action did not come out of the blue and there is great doubt whether there is nothing else behind the action. Relations between Lithuania and China deteriorated dramatically at the end of last year after the Baltic country allowed Taiwan to open an embassy in Lithuania. China sees Taiwan as a renegade province that does not deserve international recognition. Lithuania sees Taiwan as a democratic and free country that, like Lithuania, does not want to be dictated by communists.

Since the opening of the embassy, ​​Beijing has been steadily increasing the pressure on Lithuania through various means. As an EU member state, this country has the support of the European Union, as well as the United Kingdom, Australia and the US. Another factor is that the European Trade Commissioner and Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Valdis Dombrovskis, is Lithuanian.

Broadly supported complaint to WTO
The EU responded to the problems in January a complaints procedure has been started at the World Trade Organization WTO, due to 'discriminatory trade practices' against EU member Lithuania. The complaint is supported by the UK, Australia, Canada and the US.

Possibly in response, China is now filing complaints against Lithuanian exporters alleging that they have committed fraud when exporting to China, including by tampering with documents and production dates. According to the Chinese, there have been indications of this for some time. The South China Morning Post newspaper says it has a letter from the Chinese veterinary authorities about this. Lithuania says it has not yet received a clear message.

Chinese exports of beef and dairy to China are small. Of a total Chinese beef import of 2,36 million tons, only 775 tons came from Lithuania. The Chinese previously stopped a shipment of 20.000 bottles of rum from Lithuania. A Taiwanese liquor importer then bought that shipment and then gave the population tips on how to prepare food using (Lithuanian) rum.